The extended reading for today's devotional is the entire fourth chapter of Genesis, which begins with a murder and ends with men calling on the name of the Lord. This chapter is a record of the relationship between two brothers and their God, and how each of them will worship that God.

Both brothers brought their offering to the Lord, Cain brought the "fruit of the ground", verse 3, and Abel brought of "the firstlings of his flock", verse 4, a "blood offering". This that Abel brought to the Lord caused the "Lord to respect Abel for the offering".

At the same time the Lord did not respect Cain for his offering. The lesson here is that the offering must be a "blood offering" for the Lord to honor it, an event that speaks to the future for all offerings that will be unto the Lord.

This "sacrifice" of an animal, Abel's offering unto the Lord, is the "prototype" of the "sacrificial system" to come, as will be explained in the book of Leviticus. The sacrificial system is that which looks to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the sacrifice that makes those of us who receive what Jesus did for us on the cross Christians, saved people.

Please notice verses 25 and 26, the record of the birth of "Seth" the third son of Adam and Eve, as recorded in the Bible. I believe that there were many other sons and daughters born to Adam and Eve that are not mentioned in the text. Notice what happened in the days of Seth, "men began to call upon the name of the Lord", verse 26.

How shall they call unless they hear and how shall they hear unless a man goes to proclaim, Romans 10. Seth learned the lesson of his brother Abel about the "blood offering" and began to teach that to the people on the Earth at that time.

These events recorded in Genesis 4 lay the ground work for Jesus Christ to come to this world for the purpose of fulfilling that first prophecy in Genesis 3:15 as a "substitute" to take your place and my place when one is to be offered for the sins of all men, and women. Interestingly, the name "Seth" actually means "substitute".

It is in these first chapters of the Bible, in Genesis, that all the groundwork is laid out for the rest of the Bible and all truths that will be taught and explained. Actually, these first twelve chapters of Genesis are the basis for all of Bible Prophecy. We'll see this to be the case as we continue through Genesis.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for laying out the foundation for not only all of Bible Prophecy, but the entire Bible and its content. Help me to study and understand all of your Word, especially Bible Prophecy.